Assembler: A nano-robotic device controlled by an onboard computer that
can use available chemicals to manufacture nanoscale
products. It has been proposed that advanced designs could communicate,
cooperate, and maneuver to build macroscale
products. Assemblers are much more complex, and probably less efficient,
than fabricators.

Autoproductivity: The ability of a
system, under external control, to automatically produce an identical copy
of itself.

Convergent assembly: A process of fastening small parts to obtain larger
parts, then fastening those to make still larger parts, and so on; convergent assembly can be used to build a product from many, much smaller,
components.

Diamondoid: Structures that resemble diamond
in a broad sense, strong stiff structures containing dense, three
dimensional networks of covalent bonds; diamondoid materials could be as much as 100 to 250 times as
strong as titanium, and far lighter.

Fabricator: A small nano-robotic device that
can use supplied chemicals to manufacture nanoscale
products under external control. Fabricators could work together to build
macroscale products by
convergent assembly. Similar to assemblers, but
less complex, easier to build, and probably more efficient.

Grey goo: The name given to free-range self-replicating miniature
machines that could, in theory, run out of control and cause severe damage
to the biosphere. The actual threat is generally overrated, as we explain
here.

LMNT:
An abbreviation for limitedmolecular
nanotechnology; a narrowly specified type of MNT, using only
diamondoid
reactions; much easier to achieve than general MNT, but with nearly
equivalent appeal and impact.

Molecular manufacturing (MM): The building of complex structures by
mechanochemical processes.

Molecular
nanotechnology (MNT): The ability to construct shapes, devices, and
machines with atomic precision, and to combine them into a wide range of
products inexpensively. [See Introduction to
Nanotechnology]

Nanomechanical: Being mechanical and very small; for example, a robot
that can manipulate single molecules.

Nanometer:
One billionth of a meter; approximately
the length of three to six atoms placed side-by-side, or the width of a
single strand of DNA; the thickness of a human hair is between 50,000 and
100,000 nanometers.

Nanoscale: Significantly smaller than a micron; on the scale of large
molecules; capable of interacting with molecules; capable of being built by
a single assembler.

SNT: An abbreviation for structural
nanotechnology; refers to integration of nanotech features into non-MNT
products, also called nanomaterials.